Make It With Wool contestants compete in Wyoming State Contest

On Dec. 4, the Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary hosted their Annual Make It With Wool (MIWW) State Contest and Awards Luncheon during the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper. 

The event was sponsored by WSGA and the Wyoming Wool Growers Association, as well as several individual donors, including the Campbell County Wool Growers Auxiliary, Richard and Dorothy Jean Davis, Anne Leonard, Marcia Federer, Barbara Dilts, Bob and Marilyn Christensen, the Sewing Center of Cheyenne, Eric and Kelly Barlow, Bernice Groves, the Wanda Innes Memorial, the Roxanna Johnson Memorial and Colleen Jennings.

Additionally, lamb was donated by The Lamb Guys of Douglas for lunch. 

Wyoming MIWW competitors included Susan Green of Laramie, Bonnie Schroeder of Wheatland and Jamie Wilkerson of Torrington in the adult division, as well as junior contestants Emma Hill of Riverton, Madi Dunning of Encampment, Karlie McDonald of Laramie and Maeve Lally of Baggs.

Judges Jaci Mathes, Lisa Keeler and Gwen Geis evaluated each contestant’s garments and modeling based on construction quality, fit and overall appearance, appropriateness to the contestant’s lifestyle, coordination of fabric and yarn with the style and design of the garment, creativity of the design, versatility of the wool and the contestant’s presentation and poise.

Placing awards were presented to contestants in each division, and first-place competitors received a cash prize and a partially paid trip to the National MIWW Contest in Denver Jan. 11-14.

Cash prizes were also given to the winners of the Exemplary Construction Awards the Creativity Award, the Next Top Model Award and the People’s Choice Award.

Each competitor was also presented with a length of Pendleton Wool fabric.

In the adult division, Wilkerson was crowned the first-place winner, followed by Green in second place and Schroeder in third.

First-place honors in the junior division went to Dunning, followed by Hill in second, McDonald in third and Lally in fourth. 

Two Exemplary Construction Awards were given to one adult and one junior competitor. Winners of this award were Green and McDonald. Green was also honored as the winner of the Creativity Award.

The Next Top Model Award was a new addition at this year’s contest, and the winner of the award was Hill. Luncheon attendees also voted Hill as the People’s Choice Award winner. 

“I would like to reiterate our thanks to WSGA and The Lamb Guys for allowing us to be here and provide a little entertainment for this luncheon,” stated Wyoming MIWW State Director Kelly Barlow to conclude the event. “It takes a lot of work to make these garments and all of these ladies have done an incredible job.” 

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.